This Saturday, Feb. 8, the men’s indoor track & field team will travel to Mount Union, Ohio to participate in the Jim Wuske Invitational. This is the last meet of the regular season for the Jackets, with the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships scheduled for Feb. 27.

There will be six other PAC teams at the meet, which will give Waynesburg a gage of what it’ll be seeing at the conference championships.

“What this weekend will do will change that performance list, PAC wise, and give us a better idea of how we might score in the championships,” head coach Bill Lubich said.

Lubich believes his team is prepared for the meet and will be excited to see the times the men bring in as the season hits the final stretch.

“We’re looking forward to this meet…this is our last big evaluation before the PAC championship.”

After the first four meets, Lubich thinks his team is starting to hit its stride.

“Hopefully the initial training for the first two weeks, that soreness has worn off, and people should be pretty close to their top potential,” Lubich said.

The Jackets intend to prove that potential this weekend with their star performers.

Freshman Eric Townsend currently holds the best long jump (6.76m) in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.  Lubich praised Townsend’s athleticism and sees a successful future for the rookie, as he starts his college career.

“We’re looking for big things from Eric in his sprints and jumps,” Lubich said.

Townsend is listed with the sixth fastest time in the conference in the 60m sprint. His is upperclassman teammate, Jawuan Jones, is placed third in the PAC in this event as well. Jones has struggled with a nagging hamstring injury throughout his career, and Lubich still has high hopes for him.

“Jawuan hasn’t reached his potential yet…we’re looking for him to do well this weekend,” Lubich said.

From a coaching perspective, Lubich wants his team to put up their best times this week so they get a good placement in the PAC Championship.

“By establishing their PR’s (Personal Record) to catapult them into the PACs,” Lubich said.

Lubich has a good feeling about the Jim Wuske Invitational.

“We’re going in full force,” he said